Combined coupling and releasing device



Oct. 15, 1935. V s 2,017,787

COMBINED COUPLING AND RELEASING DEVICE Filed NOV. 20, 1934 .14 69 6 lfenr MDaI/Zs Patented Oct. 15, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIE COBIBINED COUPLING AND RELEASING DEVICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to a combined coupling and releasing device for connecting and releasing an object to and from an elevating and lowering means therefor.

The invention is designed primarily for use in connection with life boats, but it is to be understood that it may be employed in any connection for which it is found applicable, and the invention has for its object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a device of the class referred to for connection to the ends of a life boat and by means of which the boat may be securely suspended from the davits of a vessel and automatically released when lowered to a position to contact with the water thus permitting the boat to immediately get away from the side of the vessel without delay and prevent damage thereto by pounding which otherwise would be the case in rough weather when delay is created in releasing the boat from its fastenings.

Further objects of the invention are to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a combined coupling and releasing device for the purpose referred to which is simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable, compact, thoroughly emcient in its use, automatically performing its releasing function, readily installed and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

To the above ends essentially and to others which may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of such parts and such combination of parts which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device in locked position and attached to an elevating and lowering means,

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional View of the device in locked position,

Figure 3 is an elevation looking towards the front of the device and released, and

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the device installed with respect to a life-boat, an elevating and lowering means thereof and a davit acting as a suspension for said means.

In the drawing l indicates one end of a life boat, 2 a davit, 3 an upper block carrying a pulley, 4 a lower block carrying a pulley and a depending shackle 5 of loop form and 6 an elevating and lowering cable travelling over the pulley in the upper block and around the lower portion of the pulley in the lower block. The block 3 is suspended from the upper end of the davit 2. One end of cable 6 is fixedly secured, as at I, to the upper block 3. The cable 6 is arand centrally of support Iii it is formed with the ranged relatively to the blocks 3, 4 to provide an outer and an inner stretch 8, 9 respectively. It is the upper end of the stretch 9 which is secured, as at l, to block 3.

The device includes a rectangular support H] which, when the device is installed, is secured 5 in an upstanding position to the upper portion of the inner face of boat end I. In this connection attention is directed to Figure 4. The inner face of support H] is formed with integral transversely extending parallel spaced ribs 16 10 constituting reinforcements for the support, as well as spacing means 101 the latter when it is secured to boat end i. In proximity to each end openings l2, l3 and i l for the passage of holdfast means, not shown, for anchoring the device in position. The openings i2, i3 and i i are disposed at the longitudinal median of the support. The latter has formed integral with its outer face, between the openings 12, it, a pair of spaced parallel apertured upper lugs l5 which have their outer side faces'fiush with the side edges of support it]. Formed integral with the outer face of support H3, between the openings 13, id is a pair of spaced parallel apertured lower lugs l6 which are spaced from the lugs l5 and have their outer side faces flush with the side edges of support [0.

The device includes a counterweighted keeper 30 ll, a holder IS in which the keeper ii is to interengage, an automatically releasable primary latch le for detachably securing keeper ii and holder l8 together when the boat is to be, lowered from suspended position, and a manually 5 operated auxiliary latch 29 for detachably connecting keeper I1 and holder i8 together when the boat is to be elevated to suspended position. The keeper I1 is of substantially inverted L- shaped contour and includes a horizontally dis- 40 posed curved upper arm 2l and a vertically disposed lower arm 22 merging. into the bottom edge of arm 2| outwardly adjacent to the inner end of the latter. The arm 2! has its top edge 23 in proximity to its outer end 24 formed with a transverse groove 25. The arm 2i is apertured, as at 26 in proximity to its inner end. The arm 22 has a reduced upper end portion 21 and is counterweighted at its lower end, as at 28. The inner end of arm 2| is positioned between the lugs l5 and extending through the apertures of said lugs l5 and aperture 26 of arm 2| is a headed bolt 29 upon which keeper I1 is pivoted. The bolt-29 carries a securing nut 30. 55

The counterweighted arm 22 tends to maintain the arm 2| in the full line position shown in Figure 3. The arm 2| in proximity to its outer end is formed with an inclined opening 3| which extends from the bottom edge thereof and communicates with groove 25 at the base of the latter. The inclination of opening 3| is outwardly from its lower end.

The holder l8 comprises a loop 32 which merges at its inner end into aneck 33 which extends from the outer or reduced end of an enlarged substantially triangular shaped body 34 having a semi-circular extension 35 positioned at one side of the inner or enlarged end of said body 34. The latter provides a counterweighting means for holder l8. The holder l8, at its enlarged end is formed with an aperture 35 which aligns with the transverse center of the extension 35. The latter and a part of the enlarged end of holder 8 is positioned between the lugs l6. Extending through the apertures in lugs l6 and the aperture 36 in body 34 is a headed bolt 31 upon which holder I8 is pivoted. The bolt 31 carries a securing nut 38. That part of the enlarged end of holder l8, not provided with the extension 35 constitutes an abutment for engaging. support lll to limit the lowering movement of holder l8 when the latter is in its inactive or non-holding position. When holder I8 is active it is disposed at an upward outward inclination with respect to the front of support l0, and has the loop '32 thereof encompassing the outer end of arm 2| and with the upper end of the loop 32 seated in groove 25. The upper end of loop 32 has an inclined opening 39 registering with opening 3| in arm 2|. The purpose of openings 3| and 39 will be presently referred to.

The automatically operable primary latch I9 comprises a flexible pull member 40 which is adapted to have one end secured to the stretch 3 of cable 6, as at 4|, and its other end permanently secured to one end of a latching member 42, as at 43. The member 42 is in the form of a pin, having an eye 44 at its upper end for connection to pull member 40.

The manually operated latch 20 is in the form of a flexible carrying member 45, anchored at one end, as at 46, to the holder l8 and at its other end to one end of a latching member 41, as at 48. The member 4'! is of the same form as member 42.

The latching member 42 is to extend through the aligning openings 3|, 39 when the boat is suspended from davit 2. The weight of the boat, when the latter is suspended, will maintainkeeper in interengagement with holder 3. The member 42, when extended through openings 3|, 39, will prevent separation of the keeper and holder, due to any action of the vessel when the boat is suspended or when being lowered. When the boat is lowered from davit 2, the stretch 9 will act to extend member 40 and carry the latter therewith. Whenthe boat reaches the water the weight thereof on the keeper ll will be relieved, at which time the member 40 will be fully extended by stretch 9 and pulled upwardly therewith whereby the latching member 42 will be shifted clear of openings 3|, 39'. At this point the arm 22 will provide for keeper shifting, on its pivot to the full line position, Figure 3, releasing holder |8 which will assume the full line position, Figure 3. tion of keeper l1 and holder 8 the keeper I! will be moved to the dotted line position, Figure 3, whereby shackle 5 will slide off of keeper |l releasing the boat from block 4. The release of keeper relative to holder I8 is automatic and the release of the device from the shackle 5 is also automatic.

After the release of the device from shackle 5, and it is desired to suspend the boat from davit 2, the keeper i1 is extended through the loop of holder 8 and latching member 41, passed through openings 3|, 35 whereby keeper I! and holder l8 are connected together with the former supported from. shackle 5. The boat is then elevated to its suspended position with respect to davit 2. The weight of the boat on keeper I? maintains the latter in interengaging position with respect to holder it. After the boat has been elevated to the desired extent the latching member 47 is removed and latching member 42 installed.

What I claim is:

l. A combined coupling and releasing device for the purpose set forth, comprising an inverted L-shaped keeper formed of a horizontally disposed upper arm pivoted adjacent its inner end and a counterweighted pendant lower arm, said upper arm being formed with a groove in proximity to its outer end and an opening extending from the base of the wall of the groove to the lower face of such arm, a holder formed with an offset pivoted part at its inner end and a counterweight adjacent the pivot for said ofiset part, said holder having a loop at its outer end and an opening in the outer end wall of the loop for registry with said other opening, an automatically releasing latching means extending through said openings when the openings register for detachably connecting the keeper and holder together.

2. In a combined coupling and releasing means, an upstanding support, superposed pairs of spaced lugs on one face of said support, an inverted L-shaped keeper formed of an upper curved horizontal arm having a groove in proximity to its outer end and a pendant arm merg- 50 ing into said upper arm outwardly adjacent the inner end of the latter and having a counterweight at its lower end, said upper arm being pivoted adjacent its inner end to the lugs of the upper pair of lugs, a holder having a counter- 65,

weight and an offset at its inner portion, said offset being pivotally connected to the lugs of the lower pair of lugs, said holder being formed at the outer end with a loop for the passage of said upper arm, the outer end wall of said loop for seating in said groove whereby said upper arm will be held in abutting engagement with the holder when an upstanding pull is upon said upper arm, and an automatically releasable latching means for the outer ends of said upper arm and holder.

HENRY M. DAVIS.

On the separa- 5 

